Checkers Rally Late But Drop OT Decision To Phantoms

Some late heroics and more than a few amazing saves from goalie Alex Nedeljkovic helped the Checkers pick up a point in the standings but couldn’t keep them from falling to Lehigh Valley in overtime, 3-2.

Andrew Poturalski helped the Checkers notch their first tally during the first frame, extending his point streak to five games in a row. However, the Phantoms launched their momentum during the second as they took the lead with a pair of power-play goals.

Julien Gauthier came through with a clutch goal late in the third to secure a point for Charlotte and send the game into overtime, but that would be all that Charlotte could produce as they couldn’t push back hard enough against rookie Carter Hart, who finished the night with 35 saves, and it was Phantoms star T.J. Brennan who notched the game-winner, handing Charlotte the overtime loss.

NOTES

Tonight was the Checkers' first overtime loss of the season as they move to 1-1 … Alex Nedeljkovic stopped his second penalty shot of the season … The Checkers have failed to score on the power play in three straight games, their longest drought of the season … Tonight was the fifth game in a row and the seventh of the last eight in which the Checkers have been assessed at least 10 penalty minutes … Janne Kuokkanen saw his team-best seven-game point streak end … Andrew Poturalski extended his point streak to five games … Greg McKegg made his return after missing four games due to injury … Valentin Zykov made his season debut with the Checkers … Patrick Brown, Spencer Smallman and Nicolas Roy missed the game due to injury … Zack Stortini and Michal Cajkovsky were healthy extras

UP NEXT

The Checkers will face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a pair of road games this weekend before returning home next week.